Improvement in stock-cars



A. NIO'0LAssE-N.

Stock-Gar No.199,855. Patented Jan. 29,1878

I nven for I Mm/JMQ1L /Q N- PETERS, FHOTO-LQTHOGRAPNER, WASHINGTON. D.C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT NIOOLASSEN, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR TO MARY E.

NICOLASSEN, OF SAME PLACE.

lM PROVEMENT IN STOCK-CARS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 199,855, dated January29, 1878; application filed January 4, 1878.

To all whom it may concern Befit known that I, ALBERT N IOOLASSEN, ofBaltimore, in the county of Baltimore and State of Maryland, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Cattle or Stock Cars forRailroads; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear,and exact description of my invention, which will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of referencemarked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to stock-cars for the transportation of cattle orother animals for long distances, wherein it is necessary to support theanimals, which become fatigued from long standing, and when they cannotlie down.

Itconsists in placing lengthwise of the car a wooden beam, to besupported at each end in sliding ways or gins upon a series of screws,which are to be operated simultaneously from the outside of the car, allof which will be hereinafter more fully described.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional longitudinal elevation througha railroad-car, showing the beam and one side. Fig. 2 is a modificationof the means employed to elevate and depress the supporting-beam. Fig. 3is an inside view of one end of the car, and Fig. 4 is a horizontalsection of Fig. 3 on line a: w.

A represents the side of a car, which may be in slats, as shown, or anyother ordinary siding. B B are strong cleats, fastened to the end frameor boarding of the car, formin g between them a grooveway at each end ofthe car. 0 is a longitudinal beam, made wider than its depth, and strongenough to support the weight of the animals. I make the width aboutfifteen inches, and the thickness about four or six inches.

At each end and in the middle of the beam are socket-pieces, to restupon the conical ends of the vertical screws 0 c c, which pass throughnuts b b b inserted in the bed-beam of the frame of the car. Thesescrews have at their. lower ends pulleys a a a. The middle .screw hasits pulley a made double, so that the belts d d pass from it in bothdirections to the outer pulleys a a. To the pulley a is attached acrank-handle, a", so that by turning the handle all the screws areoperated simultaneously.

I do not confine myself to three screws, as any convenient number may beused.

In Fig. 2 is shown a modification of the means for operating the screws,which is by a shaft, 6, extending longitudinally under the car, and tobe supported in the end timbers. On this shaft are as many beveled gearsas there are screws, and on which are beveled gears to mesh with thoseon the shaft. By turning the shaft the screws will be operated togetherto move the beam. The beam 0 has at each end guide-pieces O, which slidein the grooves formed by the cleats B B. These prevent the beam 0 fromJamming, and cause it to move smoothly and regularly in the grooves.

When the cattle are to be put in the car, the beam 0 is run down to thefloor, and they can step over it.

When the car is loaded the beam is to be run up, as seen in Fig. 1 insolid lines. The dotted lines represent the beam near the floor.

This arrangement can be added to the cars now in use, requiring only theaddition of the beam, cleats, and nuts to be properly located. They canbe added to any stock-car or ordinary freight-car, and by removing thebeam and screws the stock-cars can be used for other purposes. Ifdesirable, the top of the beam may be padded; but I prefer to use itwithout padding.

I claim 1. In stock cars, a vertically adjustable beam extendinglengthwise of the car, and operated by a series of screws, substantiallyas and for the purpose described. I

2. The combination of the pulleys a a (1, screws 0 c c, and beam 0,substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. In stock-cars, the vertically-adjustable beam extending lengthwise ofthe car, for supporting the animals, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I affix my signaturein presence of two witnesses.

ALBERT NIOOLASSEN. Witnesses:

Gno. F. GRAHAM, S. T. GRAHAM.

